Awakening the Inner Orca in Everyone

Awakening the Inner Orca in Everyone

“The decision to end SeaWorld’s iconic killer whale shows and stop breeding the animal follows years of controversy over the company’s practices” (Worland). The integrity of SeaWorld is in question for having given false information to the mass media about various accidents and deaths at SeaWorld. Recently, decline in attendance has led to an “11% decline in shares in 2015” (Cathaleen Chen Staff). SeaWorld is a billion dollar corporation with the façade that its mission it to educate, rescue, and rehabilitate. Unfortunately, no funds go towards building a coastal sea reserve for the rehabilitation of marine mammals in their parks. Rehabilitation is the future for SeaWorld once it can put aside its money accumulating capitalist priority. The Blackfish documentary caused people to question the humanity of life in captivity for orcas, created an awareness of the orca’s empathy/spiritual nature, and decreased interest in theatrical orca shows.

People wonder if life in captivity is humane. SeaWorld continues to present the illusion that orcas live longer in captivity than in the wild. Previously oblivious people are now forced to look at the facts of orcas well-being in captivity because of the mass media attention. People are beginning to recognize that orcas are intelligent and possibly have a heightened capacity for compassion humans may not possess. According to a neurologist presented in the film Blackfish killer whales have a part of the brain humans do not that is connected to emotional sensitivity. John Hargrove, an ex-trainer at SeaWorld and now an activist for orca well-being, in many interviews has spoken about orca inbreeding and mother orcas rejecting their calves because of this. Unnatural grouping of the animals has taken place since the beginning of the theatrical orca shows. This has led to aggression and tension because of the differences in orca culture. Scientists presented in the film Blackfish have analyzed orcas in the wild and have found that each pod has a unique language, social interaction, and identity, as a culture. Image a group of devoted Christians and atheists are forced to live in the same household for their entire lives. There would be tension because of the culture differences. Aggression turned into violence has been seen in history between religious groups all too well.

People now see orcas as empathic and with a spiritual nature. John Hargrove at a conference in Seattle, WA USA speaks of a story that provides behavioral insight on Orcas capacity for compassion. When he became injured while performing a trick with an orca improperly, he was unable to swim out of the tank. The orca recognized his injury immediately while eco-locating around his body. The orca concerned for his well-being performed a trick like moreover, that was not taught to the orca, to get him out of the water to safety. The grace and gentleness the orca showed him proves to John that orcas are compassionate. Protesters with PETA interrupted the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in 2014 by holding signs that said “SeaWorld Hurts Orcas.” Harry Styles, a band member of “One Direction” in four words caused a massive drop in sales at SeaWorld when he said “Don’t go to SeaWorld” at a concert. Activism shown by groups of people is the greatest example of how people now see orcas as deserving happiness because they have a spiritual nature similar to humans that value love, family, and support. For example, Orca children never leave their mother's side for their entire lives, which is a similar characteristics of human nature.

People are no longer interested in theatrical orca shows. Protection Act of 1972 states the condition of being able to keep the orca theatrical shows in the parks is it must be used for educational purposes. SeaWorld has been using education as a cover-up for the shows to make profit. “Since the 1985 birth of Baby Shamu, the first orca born in SeaWorld Park, 30 have been raised completely in the parks. SeaWorld announced that it would replace its signature Shamu shows in San Diego with an exhibit focused on conservation” (Cathaleen Chen Staff), is an example of the turning of events led by much pressure placed on SeaWorld to change. Humane Society of the United States is requiring SeaWorld change its policies, for example, Wayne Pacelle (President/ CEO of The Humane Society of the United States) states his concerns in the following, “We haven’t viewed it as appropriate to capture the animal from the wild or to breed them in captivity and then have them do these theatrical shows. We are really concerned that in that sort of environment it’s just not stimulating enough.” Another example of the changes occurring within people discussed by spokesmen for the general public, “It’s clear where public opinion is… The writing is on the wall, and it’s time for them to stop fighting and evolve.” In the following is from a recently published SeaWorld commercial “The world has changed. SeaWorld has changed too. This will be the last generation of orcas at SeaWorld. No more breeding. SeaWorld has heard you” (SeaWorld).

The results of public outcry for change led to, “The California coastal Commission has banned the breeding of orcas in SeaWorld, as a condition on the approval of $100 million expansion of the tanks to house the marine mammals in SeaWorld’s San Diego facility…The commission attached several other conditions to the approval of SeaWorld’s Blue World expansion in San Diego, including one that no new whale from the wild will be kept there” (John).

SeaWorld says that the company wishes to focus more on rescue operations. John Hargrove believes that it’s inhumane to take a whale out of its natural habit just so humans can better understand the animal. It can be seen similar to taking a child with a unique disorder from his/her family and placing the child in a facility so scientists can study the child. That would be considered inhumane. SeaWorld has no intention to spend its money on building rehabilitation centers for their marine mammals. They continue to make profit off of the exploitation of marine mammals. “…so that the thousands of stranded marine mammals like dolphins and sea lions that cannot be released back  the wild will have a place to go” (Born to be Free Foundation), is SeaWorld stating that it does not wish to stop making money off of the animals. Rehabilitation is the answer to health and well-being of the orcas, but SeaWorld resists.

It is apparent that the general public yearns for orcas to live free, as it is evidenced by reactions to SeaWorld after the 2013 release of Blackfish. Not only are people questioning marine mammals in captivity but all animals, “SeaWorld’s pledge comes exactly a year after the circus company the Ringling Barnum and Bailey Circus promised to phase out its elephant acts by 2018, citing a “mood shift among customers” (Cathaleen Chen Staff). Changes are happening because people are not letting propaganda to distract them from the truth. People are investigating the truth for themselves and are leaning more towards rehabilitation rather than expansion of SeaWorld tanks,

“Following a campaign in 2010, spearheaded by the Born Free foundation and a local network of concerned individuals known as the Dolphin Angels, Tom and Misha were rescued and re-homed to a specially constructed sea-pen, in partnership with Turkish HGO, S.A.D., where they underwent an extensive programme of rehabilitation prior to their release on 9th May 2012” (Born to be Free Foundation), to be free is the best medication for orcas.

Works Cited

Blackfish. Dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite. Perf. John Hargrove. Dogwoof. 2013. DVD.

Born to be Free Foundation. “Back to the Blue - Captive Dolphins return to the Wild.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 2 Jun. 2015. 1 Apr. 2016.

Cathaleen Chen Staff. “In double win for activists, SeaWorld ends orca breeding, boosts animal rescues.” Christian Science Monitor. 17 Mar. 2016. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Apr. 2016.

John, Tara. “California Bans Captive Breeding of Killer Whales at SeaWorld.” Time. 9 Oct. 2016. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Apr. 2016.

Olivia Lowenberg Staff. “Why SeaWorld is suing California to keep breeding orcas.” Christian Science Monitor. 17 Oct. 2015.  Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Apr. 2016.

SeaWorld. “WATCH: This SeaWorld announcement may surprise you…” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 17 Mar. 2016. Web. 1 Apr. 2016.

SpaceCoastDaily. “SeaWorld CEO, Humane Society CEO Talk About End of Orca Breeding.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 17, Mar. 2016. Web. 1 Apr. 2016.

Ventre, Jeffrey. John Hargrove Beneath the surface Book Event in Seattle.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 1 Apr. 2015. Web. 1, Apr. 2016.

Worland, Justin. “SeaWorld to End Orca Breeding Amid Company Makeover.” Time. 17 Mar. 2016.  Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Apr. 2016.